Margaret Aldape ParkLet’s Build a Park Together
Margaret Aldape Park
Sherrie Ewing’s favorite statement
I would like to thank the commission for inviting me to be there. I am Jacob Simpson, most of us have met. I am a candidate for the rank of Eagle Scout. As you know one of the requirements
of becoming an eagle scout is to show leadership in the development of a project that benefits the community. This project is a little bit different than other eagle scout projects that
I have seen or been a part of, this project involves the planning of a plan, it involves adult professionals from several fields instead of a number of people doing manual labor. I have
learned a great deal with this project both in terms of leading adults, leading professionals whose time, experience and input are worth a great deal of money, and putting together the
contributions of those professionals into a presentation or project that will help with the master plan for the Margaret Aldape Park. (very faded background picture of a wild area on
the Boise river, most of slides need a background)
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In Honor of Margaret Aldape
Donated by:
Sherrie Aldape Ewing
John Ewing
Peggy Aldape Everest
Rex Everest
Tuck Ewing
Elena Ewing
The Margaret Aldape Park will be built and dedicated to the life of Margaret Aldape. The Aldape Ranch, purchased in 1916, has been in the Aldape family for 98 years. The north land that
The park is going to be on, is known affectionately as “the island” to the Aldape family, because it is surrounded by water. It is where the cows where taken to have their calves due
to the surreal peacefulness in the area. It is the ideal place for this park.
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Project Purpose
To complete the design phase of the pond area of the park, especially the foliage, which will be integrated into the master plan for the Margaret Aldape Park.
Building a park has many phases. My project falls within the conceptual phase of building a park together. This park has been in the mind and in the hearts of the Aldape and Ewing families
for some time. Their generosity is what make the building of this park even possible. It is the desire of the Aldape family descendants to keep the area within the boundaries of this
park, as close to the natural state as possible. There are now two ponds on this property. My project is to design and suggest the foliage surrounding one of the ponds as well as a general
design of open areas, public areas, and walking areas around this pond. My challenge was to keep it natural, I could not bring in foreign plants. The plants should not attract unwanted
wildlife, such as geese since, as you can imagine, there are already plenty out there. The foliage should not deter the native populations such as deer or turkeys, or any other naturally
occurring wildlife commonly found in the flood plain of the Boise river.
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This Project consisted of several phases
Phase one:
Site Visit
Phase two:
Developing a committee of professionals
Phase three:
Visiting similar park developments
Phase four:
Developing professional opinions
Phase five:
Plan
development and collaboration
These five phases describe the process of putting these plans together. Some phases were more challenging than others. The most challenging phase for me were phases four and five. Phase
one was an eye opening pleasure. The site is absolutely beautiful as you know from your own visits. At first the challenge was keeping it that way, keeping it wild and natural, while
allowing for future visits by members of the public, just as with any park. After completing phase three, some of these goals began to change just a little as you will see. I know for
a fact that they will continue to change. Follow me now through each of these phases.
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Phase One: Site Visit
The first visit included Sherrie Ewing, Kent Goldthorpe, Lynette Simpson, and myself, Jacob Simpson
This visit was July 2013
During our visit in July of 2013, it became apparent that this property had been very well taken care of, by the Aldape family, as well as mother nature. The focus of this visit was
not necessarily just the pond, though it was at that visit that this focus was set. While there we received a very instructive tour of the property, and were able to more fully familiarize
ourselves with what was on the property, and what it looked like from a close up perspective. (describe other things during the visit.)
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Phase two
Developing a Committee of Professionals
In developing a committee for this project, Sherrie Ewing, Commissioner Kent Goldthrope, and Meridian Parks and Recreation Director Steve Siddoway were consulted for suggestions. It
was important that those professionals suggested were familiar with natural park settings, free flowing rivers, flood plain foliage and riparian habitat issues, conservation, and issues
surrounding parks generally.
It was important that this committee be a professional committee rather than amateurs. The input of professionals when applied to the actual park development
will ensure that the park is developed correctly. The first time, rather than having to go back and fix mistakes. It is important to note that professionals do not always agree. This
is a really good thing, because no one person had all the answers. For example, I found the best professional resource for plants to be Andy Ogden. Other members of the committee gave
valuable input, but Andy Ogden deals with this every single day, And his ideas were different and more thoroughly thought through because of his experience than the ideas of others.
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The Committee
Steve Siddoway
Sherrie Ewing
Elroy Huff
Karl Gebhardt, P.E., P.H.
Doug Russell
Kent Goldthorpe
Dave Koga
Liz Paul
Andy Ogden
As you know, Steve Siddoway is the dierector of the city of meridians parks and recreation.
Sherrie Ewing is one of the donors of this property, and has spent her entire life enjoying
it.
Elroy Huff is the Arborist for the city of Meridian department of Park and Reacreation.
Karl Gebhardt is a licensed professional engineer, and hydrologist, specializing in the Boise
river drainage, and has worked on several parks along the Boise river during his carreer.
Doug Russell is a landscape architect for the Land Group. His input was invaluable in developing
the map and foliage placement for this project.
Kent Goldthorpe is a member of the meridian park and recreation commission.
Dave Koga is the principal at the land group.
Liz Paul is
a director at Idaho Rivers United, and an expert at river restoration.
Andy Ogden is a habitat biologist with the idaho department of fish and game, specializing in riparian restoration
and development of natural environments.
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Parks and Rec Meeting
Planned later park visits
Located design and landscape professionals
Discussed park objectives
(Date of meeting) During this meeting, topics discussed were the possible timeline for park development, and open areas around the pond were designing. This meeting was where we discussed
the professionals. This is where Doug Russell and Liz Paul were discussed. Attending this meeting were Sherrie Ewing, Karl Gebhardt, Steve Siddoway, Commissioner Kent Goldthorpe, Elroy
Huff and myself. leading this meeting was a challenge, as it was the first time I have ever led a discussion group with people who know infinitely more than I do. It was during this
meeting that names of other professionals were put on the table. I assigned Kent Goldthorpe to obtain two additional committee members. Which was where Andy Ogden, and Liz Paul were
chosen. Kent was assigned to set appointments with these two professionals to get their opinions and input about appropriate plant life.
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Phase Three
Visiting Similar park developments
One comparable park was visited
Marianne Williams
Studied pond aspects of the comparable park
During phase three, we planned a site visit to Mary Anne Williams park. Included in this visit were Sherrie Ewing, Karl Gebhardt, Elroy huff, Kent Goldthorpe, and myself. Since this
visit Kent Goldthorpe has had an opportunity to meet with the Williams family, and discovered another couple with extremely deep roots and commitment to the Boise river, and the Treasure
valley communities.
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Marianne Williams Park
October 2013
Karl Gebhart, Sherrie Ewing, Kent Goldthorpe, Elroy Huff, Jacob Simpson
Pros and cons of the park
As Karl Gebhardt was consulted heavily in the design of Marianne Williams Park, we were able to analyze and study vegetation and riparian aspects of the park through his eyes. Through
the duration of the visit we as a group saw many things that we wanted to implement in our plan, including the more people friendly theme of the park. In this sense our beginning goals
began to change as we saw how beautifully the wildlife fit into granting more access and paths.
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Phase four
Developing Professional Opinions
Andy Ogden (Idaho department of fish and game riparian specialist)
Karl Gebhart
The land group
Idaho Rivers United
Dave Koga
Doug Russell
Ewing Family
As part of phase 4 we were seeking opinions and setting our vision, on what we wanted in the park. It then came time to clarify exactly what we had seen, and what of what we had seen
would actually be reasonable for planting inside the flood plain. In doing this we met with and obtained opinions from some of the people, who were the most knowledgeable on this subject
in the whole northwest.
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Idaho Fish and Game
Met with Andy Ogden (riparian specialist)
Received information on plants, and plant recommendations
Led to the acquiring of a general planting plan of the park
The information he shared was invaluable in the creation of this plan
One of the most valuable visits in this stage, and in the project as a whole came at the Nampa Idaho Fish and Game office. While we were there we met with Riparian Specialist Andy Ogden.
While with him, he shared a treasure trove of information with us. He was able to name plants that we had pictures of, list specifics for each plant that we wanted, described pros and
cons of reasonable plant selections, and completely removed plant choices for us based on planting information and the purposes of those plants.
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Phase five
Plan Development and Collaboration
In plan development and collaboration, extensive time was spent working with Doug Russell and the Land Group. The plan was created, revised by the group, revised some more, and then
finally put into the Land Groups software. What resulted was a map of the pond area, with placement of appropriate foliage. As this plan developed, potential sites for a pavilion, viewing
platform, pathways, a beach area, and other access points for activities such as fishing were identified.
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Putting it all together
After receiving recommendations from Andy Ogden and Karl Gebhardt on plant types, a rough plan was made
That plan was then revised by the Committee
We then met with the Land Group to work on the final Plan
The plan was completed on July 30th 2014
Using the recommendations given by Andy Ogden, Karl Gebhardt, and the other professionals and specialists, a rough draft of the plan was put into action. After a constructive revision
by the Committee, and a thorough analysis at the land Group, the plan was then ready to be redrawn and given to the Land Group to be put into their software. It was on July 30th of 2014
that the final map was completely finished.
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Finished Plan
This is the map of the pond, with sites inserted for plants, an observation deck, and other access points.
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Finished Plan
The Plan consists of:
Willows
Currants
Cattails (already planted)
An Observation Deck
Access Points
This plan consists of these main aspects and plants: The willows and Currant bushes, to be planted around the perimeter of the pond, the Cattails, which are already there, the access
points, and an observation deck.
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Willows
Helps Attract Wildlife
People Control
The willow plants were recommended by both Karl, and Andy for several invaluable qualities. The willows are special in the fact that the different varieties don’t have an adverse affect
on the environment, or the animals that will be attracted to them. The willows will help to grow and attract the native wildlife, and will provide a quality habitat for them in respects
to the pond. By people control we mean preventing people from walking where we don’t want them, in order to preserve the habitat and wildlife of the park. Most of these pictures were
taken at Mary Ann Williams park
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Currant Bushes
Attracts wildlife
Good wildlife food
Keeps weeds down
The currant bushes share some of these same qualities. They were recommended for the fact that they provide great food for wildlife, and that they will similarly attract that wildlife.
Also these plants will prevent and control many of the naturally invasive species of weeds.
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People Access
Observation deck
Access points
As we visited Mary Anne Williams park, one of the main things we liked was the access it gave people to the pond. We decided to try to recreate that in this park, through the access
points around the pond, and also the observation deck at the front of the pond, which will give a nice view of the pond area of this new park.
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Any questions?
11/12/2014
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